DRAMATIS PERSONAE:
Skeef Hawkridge (Half Elf Druid 7 / Thief 6)
Goro (Half Orc Cleric 6 / Fighter 6)
Solcha (Elf Fighter 5 / Magic User 6)
Chanee (Human Paladin 5)
[Baqua Irontoes (Halfling Fighter 4 / Thief 5)]
Date/Time
Flocktime 6 (morning) to Flocktime 9 (early morning)
... Baqua's shout roused the party (and much of the crew). The halfling pointed them downriver, where below the phosphorescent glow of Phostwood itself, there hung in the air over the river a pair of beings that themselves were glowing. Angelic in look, the two drifted slowly towards the barge, ignoring all attempts to communicate. While all attention is focused on the performers to the front, Skeef hears a faint noise behind. Investigating, he notes sign that someone or something had been in Swirir's cabin. The dwarf investigates, and report the pay chest has been looted; all his gold and silver is gone. By this time, the two figures off the bow have disappeared. It all appeared to be a rather elaborate break & enter. But by whom?
The next day passes without incident and they emerge from the Phostwood once more in the open. When night falls, Skeef turns into a mouse to sneak into the cabin to further investigate their mysterious co-passenger. He finds an attractive young women of Flann appearance, apparently in a coma or similar. The cabin itself was non-descipt, but mouse-Skeef did note some bottles that could be potions or poisons.
Next day "The Hammer" must run the Iron Gates, a narrowing where the river passes between high cliffs. Swirir assures them there is nothing to worry about; just a little more current to deal with for a few miles. But then the barge slams into a new rockfall lurking just below the water. They begin to ship water from the shattered bottom; the crew rushes to staunch the flow, and Solcha enlarges some of the damaged wood to make very temporary repairs. They make it through the Gates, and Swirir beaches the barge on the Isle of the Armiger, a small rocky island just past the Gates. There the crew starts to repair the vessel. Swirir tells the party it will be a few days to make repairs; they are welcome to flag down another passing barge to continue their if they like. But the party chooses to stay, and head off to explore the islet.
The Isle is long and narrow, with a low ridge running down the center. A small promontory on the western side holds the tumbled remains of an old tower; to the south-east is a tangled swamp. They head for the tower, finding a barely standing lower floor overground with brush and weeds. The shattered bas-relief of an ancient knight guards the entrance. Skeef speaks to a local bird, which reports that a strange creature has recently flown(?) to the tower and has scared away ]everything else. Proceeding cautiously, the party enters to tower. Inside is more rubble, with the faintest remains of a second floor at the rear. As they approach this, a strange creature suddenly floats overhead. It appeared to be a huge brain with tentacles dangling below it. It immediately drifts down to land atop Baqua. It wraps two tentacles about the halfling, and then proceeds to lash and bite her into paralytic unconsciousness. The party destroys the foul creature, bringing Baqua back from the brink, and return to the barge just as night begins to fall.
Chanee convinces the distracted Swirir to let him minister the gravely injured Baqa in the captains' tent, which also allows to paladin a closer look at the sleeping beauty. It is confirmed there is no evil or magic at play; the woman is likely under the influence of some poison or drug. So he grabs samples from the bottles Skeef had seen for further analysis/investigation.
Just as the party and crew have settled in for the night, the air is rent with a scream. Solcha catches a glimpse of something dragging away one of the crew (Levik) before it disappears beyond range of vision, The party girds it's loins and heads out into the darkness in pursuit, making a beeline for the swamp ...
GAINS
15sp, 12gp
KILLS/VICTORIES
1 Grell
LOSSES
Baqua (Temporarily)
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